サルコペニアとクレアチンの総説

サルコペニアとクレアチンの総説論文を紹介します。

Darren G. Candow: Sarcopenia: current theories and the potential beneficial effect of creatine application strategies. Biogerontology DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9327-6

下記のHPで全文見ることができます。

http://www.springerlink.com/content/y774035x928j3032/fulltext.pdf

高齢者にクレアチンとプラセボを投与して除脂肪体重や筋力の変化を比較した論文が10本、紹介されています。このうち、6本で有効、4本で無効という結果です。これを見ると、クレアチンの筋肉量や筋力増強の効果はまだエビデンスが十分あるとは言い切れない状況です。

この著者が行った研究では、レジスタンストレーニングの直前と直後にクレアチンを投与したほうがより効果が高いという結果が出ています。アミノ酸・蛋白質や糖質をレジスタンストレーニングと近い時間に投与したほうが効果が高いことを考えると、頷ける結果です。

ただし、そもそもクレアチンが本当に有効とは言い切れませんので、リハ栄養として機能訓練室でクレアチンのサプリメントを飲んでもらおうとは、現状では思いません。アミノ酸・蛋白質や糖質を含んだ栄養剤を、機能訓練室で飲んでもらうのはよいと思いますが。

Abstract
Sarcopenia, defined as the age-related
loss of muscle mass, subsequently has a negative
effect on strength, metabolic rate and functionality
leading to a reduced quality of life. With the
projected increase in life expectancy, the incidence
of muscle loss may rise and further drain the health
care system, with greater need for hospitalization,
treatment, and rehabilitation. Without effective strategies
to counteract aging muscle loss, a global health
care crisis may be inevitable. Resistance training is
well established to increase aging muscle mass and
strength. However, muscle and strength loss is still
evident in older adults who have maintained resistance
training for most of their life, suggesting that
other factors such as nutrition may affect aging
muscle biology. Supplementing with creatine, a highenergy
compound found in red meat and seafood,
during resistance training has a beneficial effect on
aging muscle. Emerging evidence now suggests that
the timing and dosage of creatine supplementation
may be important factors for aging muscle accretion.
Unfortunately, the long-term effects of different
creatine application strategies on aging muscle are
relatively unknown.